Slide Hammer

A slide hammer is a tool that attaches to an object that needs to be pulled, and transmits an impact force to that object without directly striking it. It typically consists of a long metal shaft with an attachment point at one end, a heavy weight free to slide along the shaft, and a stop at the opposite end for the weight to strike; the user slides the weight along the shaft and lets it hit the stop, and the weight's inertia is transferred through the shaft to the attached end, pulling it in the direction the weight had been travelling. A slide hammer can be attached to a workpiece in several ways, including a screw thread or a hook. It is most often used in automotive repair, to pull out dents, to remove bearings or other press-fit parts, and generally whenever something needs to be struck from a side that cannot be reached directly.